SAN ANTONIO ? The UTSA men’s and women’s cross country teams will travel to San Marcos on Saturday to compete in the Texas State Invitational held at Gary Job Corps.
The men’s five-mile run will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the women’s three-mile trek at 8:35. For complete meet information and results, please click here. Scroll down for a season preview with cross country coach Scott Slade.
Junior Jake Orndorff and freshman Layne Nixon led a trio of Roadrunner relay teams in the top six at the UTSA Opener last Friday at Olmos Park. Orndorff and Nixon clocked a 40:07 in the 4xmile 2-person relay race for fourth place, while freshmen Ivan Garcia and Al Johnson were close behind in fifth in 40:13. Junior Corey Vargas and freshman Albert Cardenas were sixth in 40:20.
At last year’s Texas State Invitational, the UTSA men placed third behind top-20 finishes from Brandon Chiuminetta and Vargas. Chiuminetta covered the five-mile course in a time of 27:56 for 17th place, while Vargas toured in 27:58.44 for 20th.
Junior Dana Mecke and freshman Kayla Pratt won the women’s 4x1,200-meter relay at the UTSA Opener. The duo timed 34:02 to beat a field of 10 teams from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas Lutheran and earned Southland Conference co-Athletes of the Week honors on Tuesday for their performance. Sophomore Baylee Holder and Jayde James were fifth in 36:14.
The UTSA women finished fifth at last year’s meet behind a sixth-place showing from Mecke, who covered three miles in 18:49.81.
Roadrunners Q&A with Cross Country Coach Scott Slade
| Scott Slade |
What kind of effect has the consolidation of the men’s and women’s programs had on the cross country teams?
“It’s been a very good thing for us. Now, we have all of our distance runners working out on the same schedule, going to the same meets, training under the same philosophy and pushing each other to get better. As a coach, it has numerous advantages, but the biggest is that we’re all a family now. The men support the women and the women support the men. I have coached women in the past and enjoy it, so personally, it’s been positive for me. For the program, it’s another positive step toward building championship programs at UTSA.”
The coaching staff recently hired Virginia Coindreau as an assistant track & field coach for distance and cross country. What has her hire meant to the program?
“When the position came open this summer, Coach Fox and I narrowed the candidates down to a select few and Virginia stood out. She was highly recommended to me by a colleague at Adams State, who has the same training philosophy as I do. Virginia was part of the Adams program, both as an athlete and coach, that won the cross country National Championship five of the six years she was there. She understands a successful program and can help bring a winning attitude to UTSA . I am very pleased we were able to bring her on board. Virginia already has had a very positive impact on our program in the short time she has been here, so I’m excited about what the future holds.”
What does your philosophy in coaching cross country and distance runners entail?
“First and foremost, I’m a big believer in the team concept, because it helps create a positive atmosphere in our program. We’ll push each other to get better, but everyone understands that we are in this for the success of the team. Everyone wants to do their best to help their teammates, and in return, they benefit. Like I said earlier, our program is like a family.
“Secondly, we want to train in a way that we are peaking at the end of the season when the most important meets are scheduled. No one really remembers how you finished at the early September meets, but they sure remember how you finished at conference and regionals. The focus of our training is to put our student-athletes in a position that they are peaking at the right time of the season.”
With about three weeks of practice and one meet under the team’s belt, how do the Roadrunners look so far?
“I have been really pleased with the team to this point. The overall attitude and approach toward the workouts has been very positive. The UTSA Opener last Friday was a very low-key meet, but we really had some solid performances for it being this early in the season and with as many newcomers as we have. This Saturday’s meet in San Marcos will be a little better gauge of where we are as a team, because the format is that of a traditional cross country meet. However, I think we’re progressing well so far and believe we will be much improved over last year.”
This is your third year coaching the men’s team. Give us an overview of the squad you have.
“We have four guys back from last year’s team and they all have made the commitment to the program. Brandon Chiuminetta finished in the top 20 at conference as a freshman last year, so we do expect big things from him this season and in the future. He has the tools to be one of the top runners in the conference again this year. Corey Vargas is the leader of this team. He’s been in our system for two years and has made steady progress, so I expect him to have a very important role in our program. Dominick Zucconi gained a lot of valuable experience as a freshman last season and I expect good things from him in the future. Al Johnson took a redshirt last season, but he has really committed to the program and will be vastly improved.
“I’m excited about our newcomers. It’s a strong and talented class that will contribute immediately. Layne Nixon comes from a very strong high school program at The Woodlands, which won state last year and was fifth at a national cross country meet. He was part of our top finishing team last Friday ,along with another newcomer, Jake Orndorff. Ivan Garcia is a freshman from Laredo Alexander who finished in the top 10 at state the past two years and won the regional meet we hosted at Brooks City-Base last fall. Ivan and Al were our second relay team at the UTSA Opener, while Albert Cardenas ran with Corey and finished third among our teams last Friday, so you’ve already seen some immediate impact from our newcomers. Michael Cook also was won of the top track runners in the nation last year and I believe he can contribute in cross country as well. All eight of the new guys ? Layne, Ivan, Albert, Michael, Jake, Daniel Balbontin, Eric Doll and Cole Reveal ? are an integral part of what we’re building this year and beyond.”
What about the women’s team?
“This will be my first season coaching the women at UTSA and I’m excited about it. When you talk about the women, you have to begin with Dana Mecke. Dana had a phenomenal season last fall, finishing sixth at conference and she accomplished what she did while playing volleyball. I’m confident that she will do even greater things this year while focusing on running. Dana has the ability to contend for a conference championship this year. Jayde James and Baylee Holder, two sophomores, are adapting very well to the new program and I believe will be vastly improved from their freshman year.
“There are three newcomers ? Refugia Jimenez, Courtney Nelson and Kayla Pratt. Kayla has already had about as much of an impact as you can expect in your first week as a collegiate runner. Kayla and Dana won the UTSA Opener last Friday, beating all the runners from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which won conference last year. They were just named Southland Conference co-Athletes of the Week, so we’re excited about the first glimpse. Kayla came from a small 1A high school and was a good runner for Comstock, but we weren’t sure how the transition would be to Division I collegiate running for her. Her first race was about as much of a positive as you can ask for. Courtney Nelson has the attitude and work ethic to be a positive contributor also. All in all, it’s a great group of girls and I have thoroughly enjoyed my first three weeks with them.”